Western Emulsions Provides Two-Year Warranty for Caltrans Maintenance Project

Contact: Phil Vandermost
Vandermost Public Relations
(949) 489-2700 x204

WESTERN EMULSIONS PROVIDES TWO-YEAR WARRANTY
FOR CALTRANS MAINTENANCE PROJECT

Quincy, Calif. - November 30, 2001 - Western Emulsions Inc. recently took another step to raise the standard of quality assurance for the asphalt emulsions industry by offering a two-year performance warranty on a highway repair/maintenance project it performed for the California Department of Transportation's District 2. Using its patented Polymerized-Asphalt Surface Sealer (PASS®) product, Western Emulsions provided a successful alternative to replacing several sections of asphalt pavement, representing a significant savings to the State of California.
Western Emulsions was awarded a $1 million emergency contract to repair approximately 36 lane miles along sections of Highway 70 near the city of Quincy, and Highway 299 near Redding. The contract award followed a discovery by Caltrans maintenance staff that sealer material applied by another contract had bled to the surface along the two highways.

Original estimates to remove and replace the sections of asphalt paving approximated $4 million, and the agency did not have sufficient funds for such an alternative. However, Western Emulsions was able to repair and rejuvenate the existing asphalt pavement by performing a "chip-seal" along the road sections, using crushed aggregate combined with its proprietary PASS product. As a result, Western Emulsions provided the District 2 maintenance team an alternative to replacing the asphalt along the roadway sections.

In addition, Western Emulsions guaranteed the performance of its work and its PASS product for two years, marking the first time such a quality assurance benefit has been provided for a Caltrans emergency maintenance project.
"Western Emulsions had great confidence in its product and its warranty commitment was a significant factor in the alternative selection," said Tim Huckabay, Caltrans District 2 Maintenance Engineer. "At Caltrans, we are moving in the direction of seeking warranties for more of our contracted work."
PASS asphalt emulsion is a solvent-free asphalt-rejuvenating agent that is not harmful to the environment. The product is typically applied as part of a scrub seal or chip seal, filling roadway cracks, rejuvenating worn asphalt and creating a durable wearing course.

PASS differs significantly from conventional polymer-modified asphalt products because it can be applied to roadways in a wider range of temperature and climatic conditions. The forgiving and fast-curing nature of the product affords public agencies more flexibility in scheduling roadwork and manpower, resulting in significant cost savings and reduced inconvenience to motorists.
A family owned and operated chemical engineering and general contracting company, Western Emulsions, Inc. began manufacturing high quality asphalt emulsions in 1977. Western Emulsions expanded from Tuscon, AZ. in the mid 1980's to California, where it now operates manufacturing and sales offices in Irwindale and Lake Forest. Outside California, its PASS product is licensed to a nationwide network of manufacturers and distributors to the construction industry. More information is available at  www.westernemulsions.com.